Modfather guitar boosts Bromsgrove memorial fund

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Peter Hedges from The Hop Pole with the guitar signed by music legend Paul Weller which raised £495 for Bromsgrove Armed Forces Memorial Fund. s

A GUITAR signed by Paul Weller, has raised almost £500 towards Bromsgrove’s new war memorial after being raffled off by a town pub.

The instrument, which was mounted and framed after the scratch-plate was signed by The Modfather, raised £495 after tickets for it were sold at £5 each at The Hop Pole.

Landlord Peter Hedges said: “There was a lot of interest, as you can imagine, because many people are big fans of Paul Weller and we were only glad to help out as it is for a very worthy cause.”

Almost £25,000 of the £50,000 needed to complete the project has already been raised and Bromsgrove District Council has vowed to meet any shortfall in funding the project, up to £20,000, from its working balances.

Ian Riley, secretary of Bromsgrove Armed Forces Memorial Fund (BAFMF) which has organised the appeal, said: “It’s a fantastic effort by everyone concerned at The Hop Pole and we are extremely grateful for their support.”

The new memorial, which encompasses a four-metre Portland stone Celtic Cross, will be put up in Crown Close.

Work is expected to start in the new year.

For more on the BAFMF campaign, visit www.bromsgrovememorialfund.co.uk.